wfn.org | Taiwan Hosts International Lifeline Convention

[Taiwan Church News <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Taiwan Church News 2647, November 24, 2002
Reported by Li Hsin-ren. Translated and Rewritten by David
Alexander

   The International LifeLine Association held its triennial
convention in Kaohsiung, Taiwan from November 16 to 19.
Representatives from Africa, Asia, the Pacific and North America
joined hundreds of delegates from Taiwan's 23 local LifeLine
associations.
  Taiwan's vice president, Lu Hsiu-lian, addressed the opening
ceremony, organizing her comments around "six principles" of new
humanistic philosophy.	She called for the people of Taiwan to
honor heaven, value the earth, love people, seek truth, seek good
and seek beauty.  This six principle philosophy would, she said,
counter the scourge of terrorism and enable the world to come to
peace and human beings to find value.
   The Rev. Mr. Wu Hsin-an (Ngo Sin-an), director of the
Kaohsiung LifeLine Association, said, "In the past Ms. Lu has
stood up for women's protection, and that was the foundation of
her close relationship with LifeLine.
   Austrailian Mary Parssisons, the vice president of LifeLine
Australia and head of the board of the International Association,
led the assembled delegates in the Declaration of LifeLine, which
includes the phrase, "We will donate our time and ability in
service to society for the good of human beings."  This
declaration reflects the dedication of the Rev. Dr. Alan Walker,
who founded the LifeLine movement in Australia 39 years ago.  He
worked from a Christian motivation to institute telephone
counseling for the prevention of suicide.
   The keynote address was delivered by The Rev. Dr. Kho Chip-hu
(Joseph Kho), former director of the Kaohsiung Association and
currently a Presbyterian minister in Houston, USA.  His topic was
"Helping People Walk Through the Dark Valley."	He encouraged all
present to continue to pursue love, care and hope, because we are
receptors of the best God has given.  Although those involved in
social ministry may seem few, yet none should underestimate the
strength of a small number of dedicated people to change the
whole world.
   Dr. Kho concluded his remarks asking all to stand and sing the
chorus "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine,
everywhere I go."  He led the singing in English, Taiwanese,
Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Korean.	He challenged all to go
out and become, as former US President George H.W. Bush called
them, "a thousand points of light."

For more information:  Kaohsiung Life Line Association
kll9595@ms45.hinet.net

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